HAVERHILL ROVERS 2 ILFORD 1

Haverhill overcame their Essex Senior League opponents with another victory in an F.A. competition where they came from behind to win it late in the game.

F.A. VASE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING

The hosts had a golden opportunity to edge ahead in the 14th minute when Mark Lovell was fouled by goalkeeper Hugo Rossetti and a penalty kick was awarded; Ben Bradley took the kick but Rossetti guessed the right way and not only saved the kick but also managed to block Bradley's rebound.

Two minutes later a Lovell diving header seemed to give his side the lead, but it was disallowed for offside.

Yemi Adelani was the most potent threat for the away side and will be kicking himself for not giving his team a half time lead, his close range effort on 28 minutes being blocked by 'keeper James Philp, Adelani's rebound on the turn ending up off target, as did his header six minutes later.

Four minutes after the break the deadlock was broken and it was by Ilford, Ellis Lentell taking advantage after possession was lost by the hosts to make progress down the right wing; his effort deflected off the boot of Perry Moody on the way through and Adelani was there at the far post to apply the finish.

The lead only lasted for five minutes, however, a flurry of close efforts on the Ilford goal eventually bringing dividends, Sam Holmes' fierce shot glancing on to the bar off a defender, the ball coming back in, Alfie Carroll hitting a volley from just outside the area that came down off the underside of the bar and, as the home support debated whether it had crossed the line, Lovell made sure and claimed the goal as his own; a flag did temporarily go up from an assistant but, after consultation with the referee, the goal stood.

With 85 minutes gone the wonder goal the home crowd would have hoped for arrived, Holmes receiving the ball on the edge of the area, making a great turn as he received the ball to get away from his marker and, after checking the situation in front of him, he placed a shot with the metatarsal area of his foot from just outside the area low and into the far bottom left corner of the net.

Callum Maltese had the best effort for Ilford afterwards, but his curling effort three minutes later didn't have enough movement to make it inside the far left upright.